Faucet strainer



F-eb. 19,51946. v 'H'.B; I wls ErAl.

FAUCET STRAINER Filedy May 18, 1945 Patented Feb. 19, 1946 FAUCET STRAINER Howard B. Lewis and Glen M. Larson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Kirkhill, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 1S, 1945, Serial No. 594,576

4 Claims.

This invention relates to faucet strainers and more particularly to an attachment adapted to be applied to regular faucet spigots found in association with kitchen sinks, Wash basins and the like so that a single faucet stream discharge is converted into a spray as and when a spray is desired.

It is an object of this invention to provide a faucet attachment which includes means for removably securing the same to the spigot of a faucet, valve or the like and which attachment provides means for converting the stream of water passing therethrough into a spray when and as desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a faucet attachment which includes a body adapted to bey removably mounted upon the spigot of a faucet or valve and in which attachment the spray means is rotatably connected with the body and is operably connected with a disc member carried by the body so that upon rotation of the spray member the stream-interrupting disc is actuated into position to interrupt the spray and cause the stream of water to flow through the spray means.

Another object of this invention is to produce a faucet strainer which is relatively inexpensive to construct and assemble and which will be of relatively long life.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the followingv detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevation of a faucet strainer embodying our invention illustrating the same as adapted to the spigot of a valve, faucet or bib.

Figure 2` is a sectional side elevation of the faucet strainer embodying our invention.

Figure 3 is a detached plan view of the strainer element on a reduced scale.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the strainer element illustrating the flow-interrupting disc as positioned with relation thereto and in position to interrupt the flow stream through the strainer.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 illustrating the spray rim as `rotated to move the fiowinterrupting disc from flow-obstructing position.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I indicates a faucet which may be of any suitable construction and which has a discharge branch or spigot 2 through which the water flows in a stream when the valve I is actuated to an open position. The faucet or valve I may be of any suitable or desirable construction and usually a faucet which is mounted over a sink, tray or lavatory. The branch 2 thereof may be either the branch of such a faucet or the discharge branch of an ordinary swing spout faucet.

The strainer embodying our invention includes a housing 3 generally of cylindrical construction,

- ,within the inner bore of which there is mounted i exterior periphery of the spout or discharge branch 2 and will act to retain the housing 3 in position thereon against the pressure of the stream of water emitted through ,the spout 2.

The housing 3 has a horizontal shelf E pro- -vided with a flow port I at its central portion through which the stream of water emitted from the spout 2 passes. It is customarily desirable to position a screen 0r straining element 8 upon the shelf 6 to strain the Water and remove foreign matter therefrom before it passes into the sprayconverting element embodying our invention. This screen 8. is held in position by means of the gripping element 4 which is likewise seated at its lower extremity upon the screen positioned upon the shelf 6.

The spray converting element embodying our invention includes a spray head or disc 9 which is formed. with a plurality of spray apertures III through which the water ows to form the spray. Centrally positioned within the spray apertures Ii) is a cylindrical wall II which defines the water stream passage I2 in alignment with the ow port 'I of the shelf 6. This cylindrical wall extends upward toward the flange I3 which surrounds the port I so that when flow is unobstructed through the strainer, the water will pass through the port and out through the passage I 2 as a stream substantially without diversion of the water into the spray head.

In order to cause the stream of water to pass into the spray head and out the spray passages I5, there is provided means for interruptingthe flow before it can pass into the passage I2 and which means are herein illustrated.

A flow-interrupting disc I4 is provided for movement into position to obstruct the flow of water from the po-rt l to the passage I 2. This disc is carried on an arm I5 which is journaled upon a pin I6 formed integral with the housing 3 and extending into the head Il of the said housing. The arm I5 extends beyond the pivot In the preferred embodiment of our invention.

as illustrated, we have shown the head I1 of the housing 3 formed with an annular flange 20 spaced outwardly from the housing 3 to provide an annular channel 2|. Suitablysecured to the spray head 9 is an annular rim 22 which has an inwardly and downwardly projecting flange 23 which extends into the channel 2l. The channel 2| thereby provides the guide channel in which the downwardly projected flange 23 of the spray head 9 travels during the relative rotation.

Any suitable means may be provided for connecting the spray head 9 with the rim 22. A suitable method of connecting the said members together would be by applying a suitable plastic solvent upon the mating surfaces 24 where the rim 22 and spray heads 9 are formed of plastic.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a faucet strainer, the combination of a housing, a gripping means mounted Within the housing, a screen held in position Within the housing by the gripping means, a spray element rotatably mounted upon the housing, the spray element having means defining an axial stream passage therethrough and having a spray section providedwith a plurality of spray ports therethrough, an interrupting disc mounted within the spray member and pivotally supported by the housing, and connected with the spray head so as to be moved to and from stream-interrupting position on rotation of the spray head.

2. Ina faucet attachment, the combination of a housing having a gripping means therein by which the housing may be attached to the spout of a faucet, a strainer positioned within the housing and held in position by the gripping means, a spray head rotatably supported by the housing and providing a central stream passage and a separated spray section having a multiplicity of spray ports therethrough, a flow interrupting member positioned between the spray head and the housing and adapted to be actuated to and from stream-interrupting position through the axial stream port of the spray head, means for pivotally supporting the flow-interrupting member on the housing, and means interconnected between the flow-interrupting member and the rotatable spray head for actuating the sprayinterrupting member to and from stream-interrupting position upon rotation of the spray head with relation to the housing.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a housing, a spray head rotatably mounted on the housing, the spray head having a central stream passage and a spray section surrounding the stream passage, a flow-interrupting disc mounted within the spray head and adapted to be moved to and from position to interrupt flow through the stream passage, and means interconnected between the disc, the housing and the rotatable spray head for actuating the disc to and from flow-interrupting position upon rotation of the spray head with relation to the housing.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housing having a stream passage therethrough, a head member rotatably mounted upon the housing, means positioned axially of the head member dening a stream passage in alignment with the stream passage formed through the housing, a spray section surrounding the said stream defining means of the head, a flow-interrupting disc, means pivotally supporting the now-interrupting disc from the housing, and means operatively connected between the head and the disc for rotating the disc to and from flow-interrupting position on rotation of the head with relation to the housing.

, HOWARD B. LEWIS.

GLEN M. LARSON. 

